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East Lycoming School held 118th Commencement

By Staff | Jun 17, 2011

The Hughesville Spartans march onto the Harold L. Schaefer Memorial Stadium during the 118th annual commencement.

HUGHESVILLE – The graduation class of Hughesville High School held a very memorable and traditional commencement last Friday night outdoors in the Harold L. Schaefer Memorial Stadium. Creating lasting memories, the ceremony was led by the board of education, administration and faculty members as they marched to Pomp and Circumstance by the Hughesville High School Band.

More than 130 graduates spanned across the field in a sea of green and white.

Class President and Valedictorian Taylor Nedurian, in her welcoming speech, observed how this was the “first breath of liberation” as the class advanced to the “next chapter in the book of life.” She described how loyalty to friends defines character and impacts lives.

She urged her fellow classmates to “learn from mistakes and keep moving forward in order to survive” through life’s journey.

Salutatorian Abigail Blair, who belongs to the Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Co., took her inspiration from the song, “Circle of Life,” from Disney’s The Lion King.

After graduation ceremonies the 2011 Spartan class traditionally turned their cap's tassels.

“We all started out somewhere different,” she said, referencing the various elementary schools – Ashkar, Ferrell and Renn – where students begin their education in the East Lycoming School District. Upon entering High School, “we become meshed in our lives as a class,” she said. She also commented on how social media will play an important role on their futures. With the network, she said, “we will never be disconnected but we may be farther away than ever before. Things in life have a way of circling around,” Blair said, describing situations that took place in younger years will come up again in later years.

Acting Superintendent Larry Potash opened the ceremonies with the theme Remember. “Remember your family,” Potash said; “How they went to great sacrifices so you would have a better life than they had growing up … Remember classmates … be kind to others … Remember the teachers who labored to make your diplomas mean something … Remember your community, wherever it may be and devote yourself to community activities run for school board run for city council or borough council.”

Potash also called on the class to “take care of yourselves” and “compete against yourself.”

And always remember that happiness is “within you,” he concluded.

Following the presentation of diplomas, honors and awards, the yearbook was dedicated to Beth Myers by Mercedez White and Beth Myers. The alma mater was sung and a recessional, Triumphal March from “Aida” by Verdi was performed by the Hughesville High School Band.